Preds clinch, but not done yet! Knock off Blue Jackets 4-1

In front of a sold out hockey-tonkin’ Bridgestone Arena, the Nashville Predators FINALLY punched their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and told the other 7 teams in the west to take notice, as they beat up the Blue Jackets 4-1

Best Play of the Game: Shea Weber’s break up of a 2-on-1 by simply watching his surroundings and slapping the puck OUT of mid air to prevent the Jackets from almost tying the game at 1 early in the game.

Worst Play of the Game: Poor defensive coverage leaves Derick Brassard WIDE open and he rips one (and the only one) past Pekka Rinne, making the game 3-1 at the time.

Players (Good and Bad) of the Game: The Good: Pekka Rinne – 44 Saves….you read that right. FORTY FOUR SAVES. Even if it was against Columbus, anytime a goaltender has 44 saves on any given night and only allows one goal? It’s a good night

The Bad: David Legwand – A rare off-night during the later half of the season for David Legwand. The only Predators player to finish off with a minus on the night and seemed to be turning the puck over or missing his mark a bit more tonight. Oh well, he’ll turn it up during the playoffs as he usually does

My Preds #1 Star:Pekka Rinne – Why? FORTY FOUR SAVES

Synopsis: This was the first year that the Predators have EVER clinched a playoff spot on home ice, and boy did it feel nice. Nashville was able to get four on the board against the Blue Jackets and take care of their own business and at the same time not take their foot off of the throats of the Jackets. However, are the Predators finished yet?

The answer is a resounding, NO. If Nashville can take care of it’s business, they can easily finish as high as 4th after Sunday, which would give them home ice advantage for the first time since the 2007 playoff series against the San Jose Sharks.

How big would home ice be? How big of a deal would it be to discover Atlantis? Yeah, it’s a big deal, and the Predators know it.

Nashville’s next game is Saturday night in St. Louis against the St. Louis Blues. Gametime is 7pm CST and The Predatorial will be on the road for this one as well! I’ll be joining the Section303 Road Trip for this one.